298 
Psyche 
[Septeraber-December 
the same length as elytra. Abdomen eight segmented; first four 
segments with prominent raised spiracles each side ; last four segments 
with small spiracles each side; seventh and eighth sternites with a 
stout seta projecting laterally each side so that it is visible from 
above. Urogomphus short, blunt. 
One specimen collected at Riverside, Riverside County, California, 
4 April 1975 by R. E. Orth, reared to mature larva which pupated 
and died 13 May 1975. 
DISCUSSION 
It has been demonstrated in the laboratory that the larvae as well 
as the adults of Ocypus olens are predaceous on brown garden snails. 
In order to pursue biological control field studies with O. olens as a 
possible agent for control of Helix aspersa, insectary production of 
the beetles in large numbers will be necessary. Therefore further 
biological investigations are planned. An objective of critical im- 
portance to this total effort is to learn why fully formed and healthy 
looking pupae did not transform to the adult stage. We speculate 
that perhaps in the observations thus far completed optimum tempera- 
ture, moisture, or even light were not provided. 
Literature Cited 
Orth, R. E., Ian Moore, T. W. Fisher and E. F. Legner. 
1975. A rove beetle, Ocypus olens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) , with 
potential for biological control of the brown garden snail, Helix 
aspersa (Stylommatophora : Helicidae), in California, including 
a key to the Nearctic species of Ocypus. Can. Ent. 107: 1111- 
1116. 
